22 h. ago ‘Soil is more important than oil’: inside the perennial grain revolution

Scientists in Kansas believe Kernza could cut emissions, restore degraded soils and reshape the future of agricultureOn the concrete floor of a greenhouse in rural Kansas stands a neat grid of 100 plastic plant pots, each holding a straggly crown of strappy, grass-like leaves. These plants are perennials – they keep growing, year after year. That single characteristic separates them from soya beans, wheat, maize, rice and every other major grain crop, all of which are annuals: plants that live and die within a single growing season.“These plants are the winners, the ones that get to pass their genes on [to future generations],” says Lee DeHaan of the Land Institute, an agricultural non-profit based in Salina, Kansas. If DeHaan’s breeding programme maintains its current progress, the descendant of these young perennial crop plants could one day usher in a wholesale revolution in agriculture. Continue reading...

Politics

42 h. ago Glenn Close, 78, reveals she’s building a replica of family home where she plans to live out final years

The actor says the home is inspired by a cottage her grandparents lived in when she was child

Society

43 h. ago 'Star Wars' and 'Indiana Jones' rarities are in Lawrence Kasdan's university archive

Documents that detail Lawrence Kasdan’s career have been donated to the University of Michigan, the writer and director’s alma mater

Events

48 h. ago Revealed: The 19 unusual historic buildings and places granted protection in England in 2025

A rare shipwreck, a gnome garden and 'Dragon's Teeth' defences are among the weird and wonderful historic structures that have gained heritage protection over the year.

Politics

48 h. ago FTSE 100 Live 11 December: Index firm despite tech jitters, Drax plans data centre

Tech stocks and Bitcoin were under pressure today after Oracle Corp results soured the mood in the wake of last night’s US interest rate cut.

Politics

59 h. ago Glenn Close reveals heartbreak of missing her chance to date Robert Redford

The Hollywood legend, 78, who has been single since her last divorce ten years ago, starred opposite Robert in the 1984 classic The Natural - the baseball drama in which she played Iris.

Events

63 h. ago Trump administration confirms it will buy fleet of six Boeing 737 planes to carry out deportations – US politics live

Department of Homeland Security spokesperson says almost $140m contract to buy planes will ‘allow ICE to operate more effectively’House speaker Mike Johnson said today that he has yet to see the video of the boat strike that has been the subject of intense scrutiny and accusations of war crimes.The Republican speaker said he missed the classified briefing with Hegseth and Rubio this week because he was working with House GOP lawmakers on their emerging health care proposals. Continue reading...

Politics

3 d. ago Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman plan special routine for their final Strictly live show as they prepare to say goodbye as hosts after more than 20 years

The duo are planning their Strictly goodbye in style - and they may even take to the dancefloor.

Politics

3 d. ago Trump lambasts ‘weak’ and ‘decaying’ Europe and hints at walking away from Ukraine

US president recycles far-right tropes on European immigration and presses Zelenskyy to accept his peace planEurope live – latest updatesDonald Trump has hinted he could walk away from supporting Ukraine as he doubled down on his administration’s recent criticism of Europe, describing it as “weak” and “decaying” and claiming it was “destroying itself” through immigration.In a rambling and sometimes incoherent interview with Politico, a transcript of which was released on Tuesday, the US president struggled to name any other Ukrainian cities except for Kyiv, misrepresented elements of the trajectory of the conflict, and recycled far-right tropes about European immigration that echoed the “great replacement” conspiracy theory. Continue reading...

Politics

4 d. ago Ukraine war live: Zelenskyy leaves Downing Street after peace plan talks as Merz says Germany ‘sceptical’ about some US proposals

Ukrainian leader met with Starmer, Macron and Merz in UK after US-Ukraine talks in Florida failed to achieve a breakthroughSee all our Ukraine war coverageMeanwhile, we are starting to look towards 10 Downing Street as the leaders should start arriving in the next hour. Last preparations are under way, and we have a live stream for you at the top of the page.In the last few minutes, Volodymyr Zelenskyy has just landed in the UK, Sky News has reported. Continue reading...

Events

4 d. ago Ukraine war live: Zelenskyy in Downing Street for peace plan talks as Merz says Germany ‘sceptical’ about some US proposals

Ukrainian leader meets Starmer, Macron and Merz in UK after US-Ukraine talks in Florida failed to achieve a breakthroughSee all our Ukraine war coverageMeanwhile, we are starting to look towards 10 Downing Street as the leaders should start arriving in the next hour. Last preparations are under way, and we have a live stream for you at the top of the page.In the last few minutes, Volodymyr Zelenskyy has just landed in the UK, Sky News has reported. Continue reading...

Events

6 d. ago Cowboy builder leaves couple's home in ruins and makes off with £100,000: Devastated wife reveals how the stress led to her losing a baby

Andy Clarke, 46, and his then-pregnant wife, Lisa Clarke, 43, from Chesterfield, Derbyshire, were forced to pay another firm £150,000 to get the work completed.

Economics

7 d. ago Homeland security head reveals plans to widen US travel ban to more than 30 countries

Kristi Noem said the list of countries from which travel to the US is prohibited will increase to an unspecified numberUS politics live – latest updatesThe US plans to expand the number of countries covered by its travel ban to more than 30, the secretary of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), Kristi Noem, has announced.Noem, in an interview on Fox News’s The Ingraham Angle on Thursday evening, was asked to confirm whether the Trump administration would be increasing the number of countries on the travel ban list to 32. Continue reading...

Events

8 d. ago Labour announces plans to lift 550,000 children out of poverty – UK politics live

Starmer hails child poverty strategy as a ‘moral mission’ which will include measures to help with childcare and getting families out of temporary housingThere’s a lot of reaction coming in on the plan – some believe the new elements aren’t ambitious enough and it’s just a consolidation of previously announced measures. But here is the full strategy from Keir Starmer’s government, 16 months in, to tackle and reduce the rate of child poverty in the UK.There are around 4.5 million children living in poverty in the UK currently – a historic high. Continue reading...

Politics

8 d. ago Plans revealed for listed Welsh building left derelict for years

The Mond Buildings in Swansea, which date back to 1911, are set for a fresh new chapter

Politics

9 d. ago FTSE 100 Live 04 December: SSP and Future shares surge, £28bn energy plan to lift bills

Consumers are facing higher gas and electricity bills after Ofgem today approved £28 billion investment in Britain’s energy network.

Economics

9 d. ago FTSE 100 Live 04 December: Boost for SSP and Future, £28bn energy plan to lift bills

Consumers are facing higher gas and electricity bills after Ofgem today approved £28 billion investment in Britain’s energy network.

Economics

9 d. ago Nato ‘ready to do what it takes’ to protect Europe, as Russia denies rejecting Ukraine peace plan – Europe live

Mark Rutte’s response comes after Vladimir Putin’s comment that Russia was ‘ready’ for war with EuropeEuropean Commission president Ursula von der Leyen is now briefing the media after the commission’s weekly meeting, presenting the bloc’s plan to help fund Ukraine’s continuing fight against Russia.I will bring you the key lines here. Continue reading...

Politics

9 d. ago Airbus cuts plane delivery target amid A320 fuselage problem

Output reduction to ‘around 790’ planes comes after French firm issued recall over software glitch affecting 6,000 jetsBusiness live – latest updatesAirbus has cut its plane delivery target for this year after it identified a problem with the fuselage panels on its bestselling A320 family of aircraft that has forced it to inspect hundreds of jets.The world’s largest plane manufacturer said it would now deliver “around 790” commercial aircraft this year, a drop of 30 from its previous target of 820 planes. Continue reading...

Society

1 week ago Dentist reveals when to change toothbrush to prevent grim bacteria build up

Simón Pardiñas has warned that brushing with the wrong technique could have a drastic impact on your teeth and gums - along with using the same toothbrush for too long

Politics